I didn't comment because I didn't really feel qualified, tbh, but I came across this graphic (in an enlightening, not any other way) footage when reading a thread on another Forum which made me appreciate this arena perhaps a little better. I expect many who are better acquainted with the particular area are will have seen it, but in case not.

Sweep wrote:Thanks for that, bicycler, i should have checked. I only wondered as I cycled past a year or two ago and at the entrance there was something that looked like a corporate sign.There is an external link on that site for corporate bookings. I assume that they have third party arrange the letting out of meeting rooms etc.

iviehoff wrote:syklist wrote:3) If you want to avoid planes then probably the easiest is to take Harwich Esbjerg Harwich-Esbjerg has now ceased, so you can't do that any more.

I am obviously not keeping up. When I lived in Utrecht we used the night train service to Copenhagen to start/finish tours in Norway and Scandinavia. I have not been able to find that service on db.de today.

An alternative would be to get to Amsterdam (Harwich - Hoek van Holland or Hull - Rotterdam or Newcastle - Ijmuiden let me know if any of these no longer run) take trains to Denmark... or Germany. It looks like there is a 09:01 from Amsterdam with two changes to the ferry Puttgarden - Rødby Havn where the train takes the ferry with you and end up in Copenhagen. Night boat to Oslo.

I think I'd still be more inclined to go from Amsterdam to Hirtshals by train. Would a bike be covered by an Interrail ticket?

jakobpoffley wrote:Vorpal wrote:The only faster way over the central mountains is by other means of transport. Couldn't I go further south? My bike doesn't have very wide tires so i don't think the Rallarvegen would work.

1) I am not sure how narrow your tyres are but we've done it three times twice on touring bikes with 38mm wide tyres and once on our Bromptons with 38mm tyres. There are a few sections that are always rough, but the condition of the track varies from year to year and which part of the season you cycle the route. In my opinion well worth doing Then again it is local route for me.

2) Look at joining WarmShowers. We're hosts, there was another one near us in Hemsedal. There are not that many in the interior of Norway but a few round the coast.

3) If you want to avoid planes then probably the easiest is to take Harwich Esbjerg and local trains to Hirtshals then take the Colorline boat to either Kristansand (start of the Setesdal route) or Larvik (start of the Numedal route, which joins up nicely with the Rallarvegen) or the Fjordline boat to Bergen.

The other option is a freight ferry that runs between Breivik (Sandefjord/Larvik area) and Immingham. I believe it is possible to book this as a non-commercial traveller although children are not allowed on board). A couple of people I know have used this ferry. From Breivik it would make sense to cycle to Larvik and go north up the Numedal route.

4) alternatively take the Harwich boat to Esbjerg, trains to Copenhagen and then the night boat to Oslo (DFDS or Colorline?), or trains to Frederikshavn and day boat to Oslo (Stena this is a night boat in the other direction). Only useful if you want to visit Oslo.

6) In support of the comment made by botty about the climate. Not only can it be cold during the summer the weather can also turn unpredictably. Especially on the coast. We've had sunshine on the Rallarvegen at Finse (1222m above sea level) which turned into a gale five minutes after we'd finished our lunch (2007 travelogue). The missus and I generally use 3 season sleeping bags with liners at night and take plenty of thin woollen layers for use in the daytime. On a bad weather day you have to know when you are getting too cold. It is not always obvious. It is easier if you are travelling with other people. When you notice someone else is not responding to banter as usual then maybe it is time to stop and get warmed up. We now take a storm shelter on our tours for such eventualities.

robing wrote:I can't believe people are moaning about the cost. £75 for the weekend including camping and meals seems pretty good value. They've got several speakers lined up. I don't think I'll be able to go unfortunately, but if I could I'd be up there like a shot.

For me it is not good value. The advertised speakers have nothing of interest beyond my own experiences for me to want to take time to listen. The lunches would prevent me doing day rides. That only leaves the cycling there, the actual meeting up with others and the camping. These, which first interested me about the event, would be poor value at £75.

iviehoff wrote:People fail to get any interest from the police in relation to far more serious incidents caught on camera. Trying to get them interested in non-contact incidents is a complete waste of time. Martin Porter QC had a correspondence with the DPP in relation to a non-contact incident he filmed/suffered, which to him, as a leading lawyer, was quite plainly "dangerous driving" within the meaning of the law as he read it. They really didn't want to know.

But there is some chance that the driver's employer will take an interest, as they don't want their drivers being delayed by having to stop because of accidents they are involved in. In the best case, the employer will tell you that the driver has been given a serious talking-to, though you will still have to decide whether to believe them.

The response does depend a lot on the force involved, though. Some forces seem to be much more inclined to listen. And even with a bad force, you might just light on a good individual. If the driver only gets 'spoken to', s/he might just be more careful in future, and who knows, you might have saved a life.There is also the point that if it is a bus, and has kids on board, the police might take a closer interest.I still think it is worth reporting, as you have evidence to back you up. If nothing else, if you only get it on record, and the driver gets involved in another incident that ends up in injury, his previous poor driving in general might back up a vicitm's case.

This is a brilliant free event that attracts almost 2000 cyclists. As a member of the organising club I may be slightly biased but I'd definitely put it on your 'to do' list.

Thanks for the heads up [emoji1] That'll be good spectating. I'll be down on the south west coast on Sunday I think. I'll be doing very low mileage and speed and probably eating crab sandwiches and supping something wet. Holiday mode...hc

As a long term member of both the Scout Association and YHA (though not the Guides for obvious reasons), I think the strength of a lot of these organisations lies in some of the wonderful places they own. Many of which were donated in the last century or sold at a discounted rate. .

Thanks for that, bicycler, i should have checked. I only wondered as I cycled past a year or two ago and at the entrance there was something that looked like a corporate sign.

3p a minute/2p a text/1p a megabyte from Three, if I’m in France or Italy or Austria or a few other countries, looks hard to beat. But it’s still around 20p/minute & 20p/megabyte in Netherlands or Germany, where I might be heading in the spring. That seems to be about the going rate – any better deals around?

It's more than 20 yards nearer a hundred.As to why it has taken so long, well our local Gwynedd Council Highways Department had some hand in it all, so that explains a lot. They are professional incompetents - I exaggerate not.